Attempting Strat 45
by Jennie Lees 
Aug 4th 2006 at 10:00AM
I've had the quest for the 45-minute Stratholme run for a while now, but never managed to get a group together until yesterday. Having read about the run I was reluctant to try a pick-up group, so I jumped at the chance to join members of my raid group to rescue poor Ysida from the evil clutches of Baron Rivendare.Most of my usual Strat runs have been slow-paced, with careful pulling and crowd control, but this Strat 45 was very different. Our group composition was interesting; we had a mage tanking, a druid healing, with a paladin, feral druid and hunter as everything in between. It strikes me that an experienced and versatile group is really a must for the challenge, especially a group used to working together.
As far as strategy went for the run, we had just one mantra; kill everything. Sure enough, everything died, and fast -- thanks to extreme dps and AoE. The recent undead-slaying kit from the Scourge Invasion helped, as did +spell damage potions, innervates and a few mana-boosting potions.
Bearing in mind that this group was full of experienced raiders, several of whom were decked out in epics, it's not too surprising to learn that we were successful. For those interested; yes, we looted most corpses, including bosses, and we had one death. It was the first time for several group members.
The run was a challenge -- doing anything against the clock is always exciting -- and a great experience that I'd love to repeat again at some point. However, I'm more convinced than ever that a pick-up group would have trouble with it.
I've been in some great PuGs, but mostly I've been in bad ones. Inexperience, and lack of familiarity with each other, tend to lead to mistakes in my experience -- people not trusting others to do their jobs, for example, or simply not listening or paying attention. People interfering, or shirking their work; people running off in the wrong direction, distracted by guild chat, making bad pulls and failing to cope.
The better PuGs I've been part of could have handled the Strat 45 run with ease, but sadly the majority would have fallen apart early on. However, for any casual players starting to despair; my small guild could have put together an equally competent party without trouble, and we're by no means hardcore raiders. The most important factor, to me, seems to be how well you know the other players and how well you can think on your feet. The underlying distrust in PuGs undermines this, but I think there is hope with a good group -- if you can find one. Good luck to anyone trying it, it was an exciting experience!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bliSSter Aug 4th 2006 10:44AM
To this day, the 45-minute Baron runs that I have been on (several successfully), have been the most fun that I've had in the game. It can be frustrating for the first couple of times that your group wipes getting used to the pace of the pulls and how each person plays/complements the group, but the timer adds something that is utterly missing in the rest of the game. What was once a boring grind became alive again - no pun intended. :P
I also wish the best of luck to all those that make an attempt.
gunn Aug 4th 2006 12:15PM
Right after the patch came out introducing the 45min baron run I attempted it. On my second try I got it done.
I was on my Paladin character Gunn. I did all the pulling and popped my Mightstone (pally 1 use item that boosts attack and holy magic for 10mins) I did this for the aboms and baron. I kicked serious ass and we accomplished our goal. It was one of the best times in WoW and I only wish I would have frapsed it because people would have been amazed.
James Aug 4th 2006 12:16PM
Biggest help on the 45 run is stocking up on holy water. Each person needs 20-40 water? If you're doing the runs anyways to get your tier-0 gear it shouldn't be a problem. Then everyone takes turns using the water on the mobs. Don't both on the non-elites, but the elite pulls of 4-5 it can be a great time saver.
Pickypants Aug 4th 2006 12:24PM
Although I really appreciate your optimism and passion about completing the 45 min Strat run, I have to disagree with a couple of things.
First of all, the idea that the 45 min run is possible with very good raiders is, in my opinion, a misnomer.
Excellent players, and excellent GEAR is needed in the 45 min run, pure and simple. The gear needed for such a run is much greater than the reward gained from doing it.
While it may be fun for raiders to "rough it" by running the 45 in their Tier 2s, for us guys and gals who actually need that gear, it becomes an incredibly frustrating endeavor.
I have run Strat with some unbelievably solid groups, with similar gear to myself (blues with an odd BOE epic or two), and never got to the baron in less than 60 mins.
This portion of the game is annoying to the people who need the upgraded armor set, no matter how exhilarating it may be to the game's elite.
Incidentally, the hunter in our typical group actually completed the 45 min run on his own time, with a group of bored raiders with AQ40 gear. He said it was so easy he went afk for 10 mins.
This is not a challenging experience for me, its an exercise in frustration.
Good topic though, I don't mean to vent all over it.
jennie Aug 4th 2006 12:36PM
Well, Pickypants - only one of our guys was in tier 2, we're casual raiders and don't have epics coming out of our ears at all. The point I was trying to make is that the cohesion we had simply from playing together frequently was the most important factor in the run's success -- and that's something I can't imagine having in 90% of pugs.
Dan Aug 4th 2006 12:37PM
Hey Picky, check out the guide here:
http://www.wowwiki.com/Baron_in_45
It talks about how to do the Baron in 45 for those of us who are doing it for the actual reason, saving our buddy from getting killed by Baron because we'd like the next item in our Dungeon set. My guild has yet to attempt this, we're still getting our tier 0 for everyone, but we've got about 18 60s and we're starting to get pretty good at working together. Wish us luck!
James Aug 4th 2006 12:41PM
I would like to agree and disagree. Yes, it is much easier to run with people with epics, but my previous guild were able to do the baron 45 min with usually 1-2 minutes to spare in all blues. I have never run (or tried) to do a 45 min run, but hope to do so sometime just to see what it's like. Of course it'll be different seeing as I'm in mix of tier 1 and 2, but nevertheless, different paced :)
Pickypants Aug 4th 2006 12:51PM
Thanks for the info Dan, and Jennie, I totally get what you are saying.
I guess its just frustrating to me, but I will keep trying. I wish I could just run it with you guys. I am a great tank! =/
Argent Aug 4th 2006 2:23PM
i put it into my head to get the 0.5 set, if for no other reason as to be able to spawn the special bosses for fellow guildmates. we did a few runs in groups that were all epic'd out and got it done in 26 minutes.
that said, i later did it with a group of nothing but twinks and while some of us had some BoE epics (none from Mc, btw), we still got it done in 40 minutes. having people who understand the instance (i think i've done it around 60-70 times), it's pulls and are able to trust one another not to do stupid stuff, it makes a huge diff, imo.
Dormius Aug 4th 2006 2:56PM
Just finished my 45min last night. It was very exciting!
I attmepted this several times with no success. I have to admit, I really think the biggest problem is finding the right group.
I completed it with a warrior, mage, warlock, shaman, and a priest.
You can replace my class (shaman), or the warlock (unless you are on alliance, then a 'lock is a must for the SS)
We encountered the Baron with 2 minutes to spare.
Our group consisted of 3 members who had several Teir 1 pieces, the other 2 were all in blues. I have attempted this several times before and I am very certain it can be done in an all blue team. About a month ago I attempted it with a warrior, 2 mages, shaman, and a priest. We wiped on the mad dash between the ice mage and gate because we forgot to bring Free Aciton Potions (3 of us were netted from the spiders and killed before we made it to the gate). We had 22minutes left before we bubbled up an ran, so I assume we would have made it to the baron ewith 3-5 minutes to spare.
I am currently trying to trade up specifically for the 0.5 boots for the shaman, they are better, in my opinion, than the teir 1 boots for my class.
Good Luck everyone on your attempts!
Phiro Aug 6th 2006 5:13AM
After completing the 45min run 6 or so times and the most successful runs being those that consisted of skilled players in Blues very very few epics and even then only of the BOE variety. My fastest run took 37 min and that was puged with a group of players in Blues 0 raid gear among them. There 45min run in my opinion is pure skill as I have been on runs with people in full epics and wiped due to the lack of skill the players exhibited. My two cents for what its worth =)
masterkiller Aug 8th 2006 1:05PM
I have to agree that the 45minute Baron is probably the most fun I've had in WoW. The adrenaline flows when you are really trying to get it done and the reward of completing it is more about accomplishment then the actual .5 set pieces.
MAKE SURE TO USE TEAMSPEAK OR VENTRILLO
We completed the 45 with a Pally, a rogue, a mage, priest, and hunter with no pet out. Two of the most critical pieces to getting it completed is the pulling and the teamwork. We were all Tier 0, blues and even some greens. The 45 is ALL about skill and teamwork. It took us several attempts so dont be discouraged at all about not making it. A key is getting off to a great start and then not getting off pace.
We also used the Diving Intervention shortcut...after the 3rd zig the priest bubbles the pally...the pally runs pulling aggro with the party behind...once inside the gates the Pally DI's the priest and everyone dies. Priest waits for reset and then rezzes everyone. Saves about 2 or 3 minutes.
Pulling is crucial, and pallies are an excellent class for pulling. They have instant ranged attack versus undead and can use Righteous fury to hold the aggro. That on top of wearing plate and AOE attack (consecration). More importantly then the class is quick, calm, decisive pulling. Practice the first 2 zigs several times because that is teh most important part of the run.
Also everyone should read the Wowwiki 45 min Baron. http://www.wowwiki.com/Baron_in_45
Don't expect to have it done the first time unless you are goin with crazy geared members. If thats the case you are just doing it to complete the quest and not for the challenge.
Dekashi Sep 5th 2006 1:23AM
After attempting many times (24 to by exact) to complete the Impossible 45min Baron run with PUG's, I was almost ready to give up on my quest for the Darkmantle armor set :( Each attempt ended with players fighting over who was not doing their job, who's is going to pay for their armor repair, and people just leaving half way through (most runs took about 1 ½ hrs). Due to the hours I work and having a wife & kids, the hours I have to play WOW are what you would call off peak at best, and my guildies are normally not on. For that reason I have no choice but to find a PUG wanting to go, because I am not going to Pay some "Epic'd out" players to run me through with no guarantee of completion. So every night I was on I gritted my teeth and prayed for a miracle hoping to find a group that clicked. Well the night before last I joined a group who and a Vent server up and OMG these guys were great, everyone followed directions and knew their role, but unfortunately we fell 10 seconds short of the finish line due to the Elite’s before the baron took about 20 seconds to finally come out and play after we killed the Skelly’s. Even though we didn’t complete the run I felt a renewed faith knowing it could be done with a PUG.
So last night I got on looking for the guys I teamed up with the night before hoping for a second attempt with them. To no avail they weren’t on & I couldn’t find a group to go to UD Strat let alone for a 45min run. Well then I noticed a LFM UD Strat on the LFG channel so I joined a group that consisted of a 1 Pally, 1Mage & 2 Rogues (one being me). Two of the players were guild mates (with some Tier 1 gear) & the other and I were pick ups (mostly blues with one or two epics). After about 20min of looking for a Tank with no luck, the leader said lets just do it us 4 without a tank. I though he was crazy, no Tank, only 1 healer & no Vent. But I though what the hell better than grinding Argent Dawn rep.
What followed was the best run of my life in terms of organized chaos. To sum it up we killed the Baron in 35min (quest complete), my Shadowcraft Boots & The Black Baron Cape dropped, my armor was at 92% and no one ever died & all this happened with a “FOUR MAN PUG”. I swear words can not explain how I felt, the WOW Gods heard my prayers. After that I know with a PUG anything (almost anything) is possible as long as you all have the same goal, want it just as bad, & learn quickly how to work together. You need to have one Leader who knows what he is doing & everyone else just needs to trust him and each other. I just had to share my story and to all of the players still climbing this mountain known as the 45min Baron run keep your head up & good luck!!!
Dekashi
Guild:NEMESIS
Server:Detheroc